This blog is about historical and cultural sites, places and events all over the world visited by bicycle or that could be visited by bicycle. It is to show that a motor vehicle does not always have to be used and it is often better to visit these places by bicycle.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Sanford House was owned by 2 of Sioux City's most well known philanthropist's, Arthur and Stella Sanford. Here is a link about their generosity in Sioux City:Stella Sanford The home is now privatley owned. When I stopped to take the phot of it the owner was mowing the lawn. I talked with him a little bit and found some very important info. about some of the history of the house. For example John F. Kennedy came through Sioux City when he was in office. There is a photo of him standing on the front porch of the home hanging on the wall inside the house.

Info. and a photo of the house.Sanford, Arthur and Stella, House (added 2003 - Building - #03000359) Also known as E.H. Stone House 1925 Summit, Sioux City Historic Significance: Person Historic Person: Sanford, Arthur and Stella Significant Year: 1936 Area of Significance: Social History, Community Planning And Development Period of Significance: 1925-1949, 1950-1974 Owner: Private Historic Function: Domestic Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling Current Function: Domestic Current Sub-function: Single Dwelling

The Sioux City Baptist Church and the Mount Sinai Temple are less then a block apart on Nebraska St. The baptist church is known as the church with the white dome and if you did not know any better you would htink Mount Sinai Temple was a residential dwelling.

The Sioux City Auditorium listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the second aduitorum building Sioux City has. It is now called the Long Lines Family Recreation Center. The first was at 7th & Douglas Streets & the 3rd is the Tyson Event Center which is attached to the Long Lines Rec. Center. The fist auditorium is now used by KCAU TV, the ABC affiliate in Sioux City. The progression of the larger entertainment venues speaks volumes about the growth of the city. The first auditorium probably only seated less then 1,000 people. The 2nd only seated about 3,000, the Tyson Event Center seats about 8,000 for sports events & 10,000 for concerts.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Next in the series of National Register of Historic Places postings is the Historic Rose Hill District on the near north side of Sioux City. This area spans from 14th to 18th Streets north to south & from Douglas to Summit Streets east to west.Here is the info. from the web site:Rose Hill Historic District (added 2002 - District - #02001022) 1400-1700 blks of Douglas St., Grandview Blvd. and Summit St., Sioux City Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Architect, builder, or engineer: Baldwin, George G. Architectural Style: Queen Anne, Colonial Revival Area of Significance: Community Planning And Development, Architecture Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949 Owner: Private Historic Function: Domestic, Religion Historic Sub-function: Multiple Dwelling, Religious Structure, Secondary Structure, Single Dwelling Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Religion, Social Current Sub-function: Business, Clubhouse, Multiple Dwelling, Religious Structure, Secondary Structure, Single Dwelling

John Peirce House/Sioux City Public MuseumPeirce, John, House (added 1978 - Building - #78001273) Also known as Sioux City Public Museum 2901 Jackson St., Sioux City Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering Architect, builder, or engineer: Hansen Bros. Architectural Style: Romanesque Area of Significance: Architecture Period of Significance: 1875-1899 Owner: Local Gov't Historic Function: Domestic Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling Current Function: Recreation And Culture Current Sub-function: Museum

Sioux City Central High SchoolSioux City Central High School (added 1974 - Building - #74000817) Also known as Castle on the Hill 1212 Nebraska St., Sioux City Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Architect, builder, or engineer: Lund,Eric, Allen,F.S. Architectural Style: Gothic, Romanesque Area of Significance: Architecture, Education Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924 Owner: Local Gov't Historic Function: Education Historic Sub-function: School Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use

The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is a beautiful place to enjoy nature. Located in the Loess Hills at 4500 Sioux River Road, Sioux City, IA it is just a few miles north of Military Rd & just south of Stone State Park.

Some of the features of include:14,000sq.feet of classroom, exhibit and office space Loess Hills natural history exhibits Interactive prairie, wetland & woodland exhibits Live native reptile and fish exhibits Bird viewing area Outdoor amphitheaterButterfly and wildflower gardens A professional staff providing a variety of programs Located within Sioux City in scenic Stone State Park Meeting rooms available for rent Several miles of trails leading to forest and prairie viewpoints Facility is open six days a week, year-round

Friday, September 26, 2008

There are 5 buildings listed in the back of the book Breaking the Mold, Sioux City's Terra Cotta that listed as other notable buildings. They are the Alhambra apts., Midland Packing Plant, Morningside Masonic Lodge, Hunt Elementary School and Argonaut Apts. All that is mentioned for these buildings is the name, year built, style of architecture and if the building is on the list of National Register of Historic Places.

Next is the Midland Packing Plant. Which today is called KD Station. At one time it was the areas largest producing meat processing plant. In the buildings later years it was bought by Swift. Swift eventually closed and later the building was used for a variety of multiple retail shops, restaurant's, bars & even had a blues club in it. Because the building is in such disrepair & no longer safe for human occupancy it was closed & the businesses located in it either closed or moved. It is due to be torn down soon after an asbestos abatement can be done to it. Sioux City is currently asking for bids from company's who do that sort of work. The building was designed with Sullivanesque and Art Deco style architecture by Gardner and Linberg. It is also on the list of National Register of Historic Places.Photo's:

Morningside Masonic Lodge is a beautiful Sullivanesque style structure. Built in 1923 & designed by Beuttler and Arnold it currently houses retail businesses on the ground floor and Morningside and Landmark Lodges use the upstairs.Photo's:

Hunt Elementary School was built in 1906 and has a castle style design. Designed by W.W. Beach with Sullivanesque style architecture. The building needs to be remodelled or replaced. It has become too small for th student body and the inside is no longer able to meet the needs of the student population. There is currently talk about either adding onto the building or a better idea is to take the outside apart piece by piece, tear down the inside, rebuild it & put the outside pieces on the new building.Photo's:

Finally on the list of other notable buildings is the Argonaut Apartments. The style is not listed but it was built in 1923 & designed by Colby and Westerlind.Photo's:

Historic 4th St. has 3 buildings in the book Breaking the Mold, Sioux City Terra Cotta. They are the Major Block, the Krummann Block and the Plymouth Block. These buildings are also part of the Historic 4th St. Walking Tour. All of the buildings are also on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Major Block, built in 1889 is one of Sioux City's early Richardson Roamnesque structures. Robert Ortel Major, a real estate speculator, constructed this four story building in the midst of the building boom in Sioux City as an investment. The building was designed by Edward W. Loft.Photo's:

The Krummann Block is an early example of Richardson Roamnesque architecture. Samuel Krummann came to Sioux City in 1857 and began selling boots. He was also a real estate investor and owned multiple tracts of land throughout Sioux City. He built his new building in 1889 after seeing the expansion in the downtown area take off during the building boom. He hired Charles Porter Brown to design it & hired F.X. Babue to build the structure.Photo's:

The Plymouth Block is a very interesting combination of Richardson Roamnesque and Sullivanesque architecture. The massive building was constructed between 1890 and 1891 by the Boston Investment Company. The company was formed in the late 1880's by Sioux City promoters and was composed of ealthy investors from New England and Europe. They helped induce Sioux City's gargantuan economic growth in the late 19th century. Architect Edward W. Loft was hired to design the building. At the time it was Sioux City's largest mrecantile building. Lft dies of turberculosis before the building was finished. His business partner William McLaughlin finished the project as the dreams of the Boston Investment Company were realized.Photo's: